Hasta La Ideas

Quiet emptiness, a locked Prada store, and creepy lights await Thomas Kellein when he moves to Marfa, Texas this January. The Chinati Foundation, founded by Donald Judd and housing permanent installations of his work, as well as by other artists like Dan Flavin and Claes Oldenburg, has announced that Kellein will be taking over as its new director at the start of next year, replacing the retiring Marianne Stockebrand, who has been in the role for the past sixteen years. Kellein comes from the Kunsthalle Bielefeld museum in Germany, where he’s served as its director since 1996. While the climate is apt to be something completely different for him, Kellein is already very familiar with Judd’s work, having run the exhibition “Donald Judd: Early Work, 1955-1968” back in 2002 at both his current museum and as a traveling show at the Menil Collection in Houston. Here’s a bit:

Speaking of the appointment and the transition it represents for Chinati, Board President Arlene J. Dayton remarked: “Chinati has been extremely fortunate that its extraordinarily committed first director, Marianne Stockebrand, was able to transform a fledgling institution, founded by Donald Judd but left upon his death without the resources to support itself, into one of international stature without ever compromising Judd’s demanding standards. Only because of this distinguished record are we able to announce today a successor who can be much more than a mere custodian. Thomas Kellein brings with him a similar level of commitment to the mission of the institution, and will help ensure the stability of our future and the realization of our long-range plans. We are truly delighted to be able to entrust the Chinati Foundation to Dr. Kellein’s wise care.”

Previously on UnBeige: Online Tour of Donald Judd’s Personal Library Launches

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.